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Gen. Musharraf Returns

Gen. Pervez Musharraf has returned to Pakistan, proclaiming an intention to “save” his country. If there is anyone capable of saving Pakistan, he is not it.

When General Musharraf, who took power in a bloodless coup in 1999, was forced to resign as president in 2008, he was facing impeachment. A decade in power exposed his dictatorial tendencies; he suspended constitutional rule twice, declared a state of emergency in 2007, unleashed a violent crackdown against political opponents and fired the chief justice of the Supreme Court and five other judges.

After the 2008 elections, which put his political adversaries in charge of the government, top civilian and military leaders orchestrated General Musharraf’s departure. He has since lived in London and Dubai, planning his return. But only a small crowd greeted him on arrival at the Karachi airport on Sunday. General Musharraf faces numerous court challenges in Pakistan, including criminal charges in the deaths of Benazir Bhutto, the former prime minister, and a Baluch leader. He has denied the charges, but it is essential that the cases be adjudicated. Human Rights Watch and other activists are also pushing for him to be held accountable for human rights abuses during his presidency.

General Musharraf’s successor, President Asif Ali Zardari, Ms. Bhutto’s widower, has a deeply flawed record on corruption and governance. But Mr. Zardari and his Pakistan Peoples Party did the right thing this month when the government stepped down at the end of its five-year term, setting the stage for elections on May 11. Pakistan faces profound challenges, including militant violence and a crippled economy. The last thing the country needs is General Musharraf, who has shown his preference for autocracy over democracy.